, 1887-07-24
GIVE 1T A n

The people of Cheyenne, Wyoming
Territory, are anxious TO have some more
good o thrown after the bad in the
building of a lot of branches for the
Union Pacific railroad. The disinterested
witnesses before the Pacific railroad inves-
tigating commission who advocated this
method of getting rid OF part of the
treasury surplus would like to have the
new branches center al Cheyenne, in or
der that this city may recover its import
ance as a distributing point, which it lost
by the completion of the main line. 1t
is probable that congress will decide that
the Union Pacific owes the government
quite enough already.
Our esteemed contemporary, the Phila-
delphia Times, from which the preceding
paragraph is taken, fails to get at the
marrow of the subject. 1t should not
forget hat nearly a score of years have
passed since the main line of the Union
Pacific was extended beyond this point.
Whatever good results followed from
Cheyenne being a distributing point, IN
the sense meant by the Tunes, have
therefore long since passed away.
There is no doubt, as the Times insinuates,
that Cheyenne is deeply and even selfish
ly interested in the building of Union Pa
cifc branch lines, but this of itself surely
does not disprove the statement that they
are absolutely essential to preserve the
road from financial ruin. As it is now
the Union Pacific must rely almost exclu-
sively on the main line for its support.
Other railroads, which are not hampered
by Annoying governmental interference,
are rapidly invading the field in which
the Union Pacific has hitherto enjoyed an
exclusive monopoly. The main line is be-
ing paralleled and feeders are being ex-
tended out in every direction to tap the
rich mineral deposits. Even now the
commercial scepter is rapidly passing into
other hands and a few more years of Grip
ping restrictions must involve the prop
erty in irretrievable ruin.
1t seems to us the government should
be more inclined to look upon the Union
Pacific as a private individual would upon
a creditor similarly situated. The ques-
ton simply is, which is the best way Of
getting out Of the corporation the money
the government has already invested in it2
Is it by continually Fostering its manage
ment, by hampering it with restrictions
and REFRESHING all evidences of its enter
prise2 If this is the proper course then
let it be followed.
We do not believe it is. The managers
of the company must be allowed some
latitude or they will dismally fail in the
effort to accomplish good results. In a
death struggle with vigorous rivals n man
with his hands tied behind him stands
very little show. So it is with the COM
pany. Some practical common sense
must be used in treating the matter from
the government standpoint and the rule
of reason cannot be commenced too soon.
In the discussion this one fact should
not be lost sight of The good, rich,
financial life,blood OF the Union Pacific
must come from the feeders before it can
flow very unanimously through the
trunk. Without branch roads the Union
Pacific must soon become n moribund in,
stitutioni with them it may hope for 6
renewal of vitality that will place it OF
the high road to prosperity.
Give it a chance